Deadly bacteria link to Victorian caterer

Thousands of Victorians might have been exposed to a potentially-fatal bacteria by food at hospitals, aged care homes and council-run services.

Christine McGinn and Caroline Schelle

Australian Associated PressFebruary 22, 20196:46pm

Victorian hospitals, aged care homes, numerous councils and some Meals on Wheels services are among the customers of a commercial catering company shut down amid fears of spreading a potentially fatal bacteria.

The health department closed I Cook Foods of Dandenong South overnight after meals it provided to a private hospital in Melbourne's east may have been contaminated with listeriosis.

The bacteria is believed to have contributed to the death of an 80-year-old woman earlier this month.

Victoria's acting chief Health Officer Brett Sutton told reporters on Friday he acted out of an "abundance of caution" to close the kitchen, while the department investigates the woman's death.

"We understand she has consumed a number of high-risk foods, they were investigated in the community but they have also been tracked back potentially to I Cook Foods," Dr Sutton said.

"(There) have been a number of positive samples that have not been definitively linked to the unfortunate case who has died.

"We think something has gone amiss in the food production ... but we are at very early stages of investigation."

Six positive samples for listeriosis have been found in the business's kitchen.

Some Meals on Wheels services distributed food from the suspect kitchen.

"This is of deep concern to our organisation and those Meals on Wheels services are working closely with Victorian health authorities to ensure that no potentially contaminated meals are delivered to consumers," Meals on Wheels president Sharyn Broer said.

People in the affected council areas should avoid eating frozen or chilled meals until they have spoken with their meal provider, she added.

There were 27 recorded cases of listeriosis in Victoria in 2018.

"A third of people who get (listeriosis) can die, it can cause blood poisoning or septicaemia, meningitis and it finds its place in food contamination too easily," Dr Sutton said.

I Cook Foods has been contacted for comment.

The production facility will be reviewed, retested and cleaned before being permitted to reopen.

Councils, hospitals and care facilities will need to find other places to provide meals for up to two weeks, Dr Sutton said.

"Anyone who is elderly, immune-suppressed or pregnant women are at risk," he said, adding soft cheeses, sliced meats and fruits were among the high-risk foods.